How long does sperm live?

09.23.2014

Sperm cells fertilize with the ovum in a
woman and a new life is born. This is a fact that most of us know. However, not
many of us know about how sperm is formed, how long it lives in the male
reproductive system, and how long it survives when it enters a woman’s body. Let’s
have a brief look at these facts and learn about the sperm life span.

Sperm life span in the male reproductive system

Sperm cells are produced during a process
called spermatogenesis in the two testicles of a man. During this process, the spermatogenic cells present in the seminiferous
tubules keep on dividing till they result in the formation of spermatids. These are immature cells which are then passed
on to the epididymis for maturation.

It’s in the epididymis
that the sperm cells are allowed to mature for approximately two to three
weeks. This is where it stays after it is fully mature, waiting to be
ejaculated into the female reproductive system during a male orgasm.

Sperm lasts in a male body for around 74 days.
If they are not released during an ejaculation within this period, they die and
are then reabsorbed in the male body. Various factors will determine the health
of the sperm and for how long it is able to survive when it is ejaculated
during a male orgasm.

Sperm life span outside the male body

When you ejaculate, the sperm is mixed with
various nutrients and fluids, mainly coming from the prostrate gland and the
seminal vesicles, and then released out of the penis. Your semen can contain 100-400
million sperms.

When sperm is ejaculated outside the body, for
example, during masturbation or when the penis is pulled out of the vagina just
before ejaculation, it survives only for a few minutes. People who are relying
on the withdrawal method to avoid unwanted pregnancies should make sure that
none of the ejaculation gets close to the woman’s vagina. Once the semen dries
up, sperm no longer survive and actually do not live for more than 20 to 60
minutes after being exposed to the environment.

How long does sperm survive in a woman’s body

The main aim of sperm is to fertilize an egg
and result in conception. For anyone who is trying to conceive, it is important
to know exactly how long sperm can survive once it is released into a woman’s
reproductive system.

Due to the presence of acidic vaginal
secretions, sperm is not able to survive in the vagina of a woman for more than
six hours. Sperm cells have a much better chance of survival when they enter
the woman’s body through the cervical opening.

The length of time that the sperm are able to
survive in a woman’s body depends on various conditions. The health and
strength of the mature cell also plays an important role. Factors such as the
internal metabolic capacity of the sperm will play a role in how long it is
able to survive in the female reproductive system.

Factors such as the quality of the cervical
mucus as well as the ability of the sperm to get out of the vagina and enter
the uterus and go up to the fallopian tube will also determine the chances of
fertilization. The presence of sperm antagonists may reduce the survival rate
of the sperm as well.

Considering the fact that sperm is healthy,
cervical mucus is ideal for fertility, and the vaginal and uterine environment
are ideal, most sperm cells can easily survive between six to seven days in a
woman’s fallopian tube. This is where it has the most chances of fertilizing an
egg. However, since there is no such thing as ideal conditions, the average
time that most sperms survive is three to four days. The lifespan may vary
between one to seven days.

Fertilization is possible for as long as the
sperm are alive and present in the female reproductive system. Their motility
and morphology will determine whether they are able to reach and fertilize the
ovum. If they are not able to swim quickly or not shaped correctly, their
chances of dying inside the womb without fertilizing an egg tend to rise. Even
if fertilization does occur, only one sperm will survive, that is, the one that
actually fertilizes the egg. The remaining sperm will die sooner or later.

Keep in mind that sperms will be continuously
dying in the woman’s reproductive system. So, with each passing day more and
more sperm will keep on dying. This is why the best way to conceive is to have
sex every two to three days so that a few numbers of sperm are always present
in the female reproductive system waiting to fertilize an ovum.